[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed

To Larry Hughes, Fleming's Friend and President of his Publisher, William Morrow and Company

Goldeneye, Orcabessa, Jamaica, March 2, no date (presumably ca. 1962). One sheet, 10 x 8 in. (254 x 203 mm). Two-page autograph letter on Fleming's blue Goldeneye personal stationery, signed by him to his friend Larry Hughes, President of William Morrow & Company, regarding business, including the book-form publication of Ian's anthology essay series, The Seven Deadly Sins (published by William Morrow), as well as other topics. Creased from old folds. Includes a carbon of Hughes' response to this letter, with some pencil annotations, likely by Hughes.

"Dear Boy, 1) Blast you! 2) Like all the best publishers you waffle charmingly but avoid the basics. 3) How many words? What Deadline? How MUCH? (& Mr & Mrs Morrow had better dig deep into their piggy bank!) 4) All 3 Being reasonable I will acquiesce 1) because its you 2) because I invented the series anyway 3) because I can blather about the subject just as entertainingly as the next man. 5) I await with infinite patience your advice on the above but count 5 days for a letter here. But I shall be at the Pierre 17th - 20th & a letter left there would serve (No! I will not come to My Fair Lady with you & darling Rose) 6) I see Sunday Times are doing the CIA book. What a lot of ____ to be achieved! 7) B. is taking me dancing tonight. What I go through for my friends! But thanks again for the trousers & shoes which will allow me to Fandango clothed & shod. A warm kiss for Rose affectionately Ian P.S. I guess there was a hermit in the Triton. Haha!"

A wildly charming and humorous letter from Fleming to his friend and publisher, Larry Hughes.

Hughes was the son-in-law of Ian's lifelong close friend, Hugo Pitman, and was largely responsible for the book-form publication of Fleming's anthology essay series in The Sunday Times, "The Seven Deadly Sins". As Ian describes in the book's Foreword: "My next claim to introduce these essays was my suggestion to Mr. Lawrence Hughes, a friend of mine and a Director of William Morrow & Co., that he should publish them in a book. Usually when one makes brilliant suggestions to a publisher, a dull glaze comes-over his eyes and nothing happens. But in this case Larry Hughes was enthusiastic and, despite all kinds of copyright problems, energetically pursued my suggestion and gathered these seven famous English authors together between hard covers—no mean feat if you know anything about copyright and literary agents."

Lot includes a first edition of The Seven Deadly Sins.

By descent in the family, and never before offered for sale.

Larry Hughes, thence by descent

To request further details about this lot, please email booksmanuscripts@freemansauction.com

Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

darrenwinston@freemansauction.com 267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

We are open for pick-up Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm.

For questions about shipping or packing, please contact shipping@hindmanauctions.com or see our Shipping/Packing page.

[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed

Larry Hughes, thence by descent

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed

[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed

Lot Description

Condition Report

Preview

Auction Contact

Shipping | Pickup

[Literature] Fleming, Ian. Autograph Letter, signed